Mecklenburg County issues Huntersville building permits; the town handles zoning use permits, rezonings and variances. Town Planning: 704-875-7000.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Huntersville’s zoning page, its zoning use permit page, its planning and zoning fee form and Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement.
Building in Huntersville usually involves two governments. Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement issues the building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and does the code inspections. The Town of Huntersville Planning Department decides what can be built where: zoning, zoning use permits, rezonings, variances and code enforcement for zoning violations. Call town Planning at 704-875-7000.
Who to call
- Town zoning, zoning use permits, rezoning: Huntersville Planning, 704-875-7000, permits@huntersville.org or Planning@Huntersville.org
- Building permits and inspections (county): Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, 980-314-2633 (980-314-CODE)
- Report a zoning violation: the town’s online form or 704-875-7000
- Mailing address: Town of Huntersville, Attention: Planning Dept., P.O. Box 664, Huntersville, NC 28070
Do I need a county building permit?
The county’s permitting page says permits are required for new construction, alterations, repairs, moves and demolition of one- and two-family homes and townhomes, and for any electrical, mechanical or plumbing work. Large sheds, room additions and decks need one, the town’s permit page says.
Apply and book inspections through AccelaMeck. You can look up permits issued to any property with the county permit search. Fees are in the county’s LUESA fee ordinance. Homeowners who own and live in the house can act as their own contractor under the county’s homeowner permitting rules.
When a county building permit is required, the town says a separate zoning use permit is not.
Town zoning use permits
Smaller projects and some uses need only a town zoning use permit:
- Sheds, barns and pergolas no more than 12 feet long on any side
- Home occupations and small home day cares
- Temporary structures and trailers, mobile food sales and seasonal markets
- A commercial change of use, a family care home or a communication tower
Email the application and the Town of Huntersville plot plan to permits@huntersville.org. A permit technician reviews it and tells you the fee. The town schedules a zoning inspection about 30 days after the permit is issued; you do not need to be home.
What it costs at the town
From the town’s planning and zoning fee form:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Zoning verification letter | $25 |
| Zoning use permit review | $40 |
| Commercial zoning review | $40 |
| Home occupation permit | $140 |
| Sign permit (paper application) | $140 |
| Variance or appeal, one residential property | $150 |
| Variance or appeal, one commercial property | $300 |
| Rezoning to a residential district | $520 |
| Rezoning to a commercial district | $350 to $1,270 by acreage |
| Rezoning to a mixed-use district | $400 to $1,270 by acreage |
| Text change to the zoning ordinance | $400 |
Zoning map and rezoning
Look up a property’s zoning on the town’s zoning map. A rezoning changes that map. Planning staff check each request against the town’s 2040 Community Plan and report to the Planning Board, which recommends, and the Huntersville Board of Commissioners, which decides, the town’s zoning page says. The town regulates zoning in its extraterritorial jurisdiction as well as inside town limits.
Variances and appeals
A variance gives relief where the zoning ordinance would cause unnecessary hardship; it is not granted to remove an inconvenience. Variances and appeals are quasi-judicial hearings before the Planning Board, according to the town’s variances page. Applications must be filed in person at 105 Gilead Road, third floor, or by certified mail, by the deadline on the town’s variance schedule. Board members may not discuss a case outside the hearing.
Meeting dates
From the town’s meeting calendar:
| Body | Next meetings | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Commissioners | 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20; 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2; 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 | Huntersville Town Hall, 14704 N. Old Statesville Road |
| Planning Board | Oct. 27 meeting canceled; next 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24 | Huntersville Town Hall |
The Planning Board normally meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Board of Commissioners meetings stream on the town’s YouTube channel.
What this means for you
- A deck, addition or large shed needs a county building permit; a small shed needs only a $40 town zoning use permit.
- Check your zoning before you buy or build, and ask a planner at 704-875-7000 if unsure.
- Rezonings are decided by the Board of Commissioners after a Planning Board recommendation; both meet in public.
Related: Mecklenburg County property taxes and who to call in town government.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Huntersville?
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for Huntersville and does the inspections. Apply through the county’s AccelaMeck portal or call 980-314-2633.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Huntersville?
A shed or pergola no more than 12 feet long on any side needs a town zoning use permit, not a county building permit. Email the application and plot plan to permits@huntersville.org; the review fee is $40.
How much does it cost to rezone property in Huntersville?
The town’s fee schedule charges $520 to rezone to a residential district, $350 to $1,270 for commercial districts and $400 to $1,270 for mixed-use districts, depending on acreage.
When does the Huntersville Planning Board meet?
Usually the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Huntersville Town Hall, 14704 N. Old Statesville Road. The Oct. 27 meeting is canceled; the next is Tuesday, Nov. 24.
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